Electric switch



' June 21 '.1. G. PEE'RSON 23213559 ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed may 5, i934@gi l figg. 2. i233.

Patented June 21, 1938 UNlTEDsTATr-:fs

PATENT OFFICE 15 Claims.

; My invention relates to electric switches. It has for its object toprovide an improved electric switch, and, more particularly, an improvedsnap switch of the type shown in my prior :,1' patent, No. 1,894,002,and adapted to control a plurality of circuits such, for example, as thecircuits of a heating pad or-the like. A further object of my inventionis to provide an improved switch of this character which is markedlymore lo' compact than previous switches oi this type, and therebyespecially adapted to use as a through switch connected in theconductors of a heating pad. all in such manner as to reduceSubstantially the annoyance or discomfort of a user inadveris tentlyrolling upon the through switch when the heating pad is in use. Furtherobjects of inv invention are to provide improved switch unit and throughswitch constructions which, while havlnggthe advantages aforesaid andalso being en- 20 tirely safe, and very convenient in operation, are

also adapted to be substantially more economically produced thanpreviousswitches of this type. 'Ihese and other objects and advantagesof my improved construction will, however, here- -it-i inafter morefully appear.

members, the switch unltbeing-remcved therefrom;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig- 40 ure y i Figure 5 isa sectional view on line l--l of Figure 1; Y n v Figure 6 is a plan viewof the switch unit removed from the one of the insulating plates alsobeing removed to facilitate illustration:

, Figure I is a side elevation of the mechanism shown inv Figure 6 whenviewed from the lefthand sideoi that figure, the actuating 'member beingshown ,as centrally disposed;

.Figure-84s a plan view of the construction shown in Figure 6 with theswinging elements also lifted dittov facilitate illustration;

v Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, but showing the inside face ofthe cooperating insulating plate shown in Fig. 1 but removed in Figs.6-8;

Figure 10 is a seriesof detail perspective views of the swingingelements of the switch;

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional view through 5 the switch actuatingparts, showing the movable elements thereof in one position, and

Figure 12 is a view similar vto Figure 11, but showing the parts inanother position.

In this illustrative construction, I have shown 10 my improved switchenclosed in cooperating casing members I and 2 of a usual longitudinallydivided through switch type and having my improved switch mechanismtherebetween and operable by an actuating member 3 movable in a 15 slotI longitudinally oi the casing members from the "off" position yoi' thesame illustrated in Figure 1, in the same direction into the severalon"y positions indicated in dotted lines in that ligure. and thenreversely movable to return to the full 2o -line position illustrated;the switch mechanism herein including a unit having spaced insulatingplates 5 and B connected by connecting members 1 at their ends and,respectivelyl carrying a terminal plate 8 and through connection.. 8,and a 25 plurality of terminal plates I0 and li, each provided withusual binding screws, while the switch mechanism between the plates isimproved as hereinafter more fully appears.

Referring more' particularly to this switch 30 mechanism, it will benoted that herein the terminal H is connected through a rivet I2 withone of a pair of oppositely extending extensions Il similarly riveted tothe plate B and formed on one extremity of a metal conducting plate il35 having an aperture I5 therein adjacent one edge of the insulatingplates l and i and in which and registering apertures in the latterplates the pivot pin of the switch, herein a stud i8. is disposed in.such manner as to produce a' very compact 40 construction as willhereinafter appear. Herein also this plate .I4 isl provided with anarrow inclined spring portionv l1 extending toward the 'opposite edgeof the plates 5,. l ,and having an elongated end portion lll,substantially midway 45 between the plate edges, extending to oppositesides of the portion I1 and provided with a series of apertures I9therein, herein four in number. As shown, each of these apertures i8 hasbeveled walls 2| and the apertures are disposed in an arc 50 struck fromthe stud Il as an axis, as clearly 'appears in Figure 8. The portion I8further is normally disposed in elevated position .spaced above theinsulating plate 6, as shown in Figure r` 5. `Cooperating with theseries of cams thus prof-55 insulating plate I by a metal washer 2l'.Herein' will be noted that the body or shank 2l 0f thisv member 2.herein of metal, is also provided with an aperture in its inner endregistering with the aperture Il and receiving the stud Il so that theactuating member 2 is freely movable with the member 2| about this studas a pivot. Moreover, it will be noted that the member 2| is pro- `videdwith a vertical end portion 2l at right angles to the body portionthereof carrying the projection 22 and at the vopposite end thereof fromthe latter, and also with a top portion 26 parallel to the body portion,but shorter than the latter and herein spaced from the adiacent also,both the body of member 2| and this pox'- tion 2l are provided withregistering apertures 22 through which the stud Il also extends. Also.it will be noted that the portion 24 is provided with an opening 21,herein of substantially rectangular form, Athrough which the adjacentextremity 22 of the actuating member body 22 extends, while adjacentshoulders 22 engage the inner edges of the opening 21, in such mannerthat, when the actuating member 2 is moved about its pivot on the studIl, the member 2| is caused to be swung therewith.

operatively associated with the actuating means dcribed is also improvedcontact means movable therewith. Herein. this contact means comprises aplurality of separate contact members '22 and 22 of identic constructionbut oppositely disposed, one above and the other below the shank 22 ofthe actuating member 2. As shown, each of these contact members is alsoprovided with an aperture 2| near the non-contact carrying end thereofand through which the stud I2 is extended. while each of the same isalso provided with a shouldered projection 22 on its adiacent extremityalso extending through the opening 21 in the member 2l. Also, it will beobserved that these lcontact members extend outward along the shank 22of the actuating member 2 and between the body of the member 2| and thisshank in the case of the member 22. and between the portion 2l on themember 2| and the shank 22 in the case of the member 22. Moreover. itwill be noted that each is provided with an outwardly deflected orinclined contact carrying portion 22, carrying a contact 2| on themember 22. and an oppositely--disposed contact 2l on the member 2B, bothof which contacts are herein disposed and movable in a narrow arcbetween the portion Il on the member Il and the actuating end of theactuating member '2 and also within and closely adjacent the edges ofthe insulating plates l and I. Cooperating with these movable contacts24 and 2l are also improved stationary contacts carried on theinsulating plates l and l. Herein, when the actuating member 2 is in its"oi! position, illustrated in Figures l, 2, and 6, neither contact 2lnor 2l will, of ccurse. engage a cooperating stationary contact.However, when the member 2 is moved down therefrom to the mst adjacentdotted line position shown in Figure l,

the movable contact 25 will engage a stationary contact 2l on the platel, herein in the form of a rivet connecting the terminal Il to the plate2. Further, when moved from this position down into the next, or second.dotted line position, shown in Figure l, the other contact will engage asimilar stationary contact 21 on the plate i, herein spaced from thecontact 22 and also comprising a rivet but connecting the terminal plate2 to the plate l. AWillen moved still further down into the bottomdotted line position shown in Figure 1, the contact 2l will engage alike contact rivet 22 while the contact 2i will engage a like contactrivet 22, these two stationary contacts 2l. 22 being on the plates l andl. respectively, and being simultaneously engaged, whereas the contacts22 and 21 are alternately engaged. Thus, with current supplied from theterminal plate Il through the rivet I2 to the plate il and through thelatter and the associated metal parts to the contacts 22 and 2l, it willbe evident that current will be distributed in such manner that a padhaving a through connection connected to the binding posts on theterminals 2, I2.

and Ii, will be successively connected for low, medium or high heatingas the actuating member 2 moves downward through the three dottedpositions indicated in Figure 1.

As regards the through connection 2. it willalso be noted that hereinthe same is disposed on the outer face of the insulating plate l andbetween a protruding end of the stud |2 and the edge oi' the plate 5which is remote from the actuating member 2. Further, it will also benoted that the portion of this through connection adjacent the stud isquite narrow, in such manner as to enable it to be adequately spacedfrom the stud, while it will also be noted that the outer edge of thisnarrow portion is spaced from the outer edge of the insulating plate.The opposite ends of this member 2, are, however, en larged and carryusual binding posts at their extremities, while between these bindingpostsand the narrow portion mentioned, rivets 2l are provided. rivetingthe through connection to the insulating plate; the inner ends of theserivets herein also being amply spaced from the portion 2l on the member2| in all positions ofthe latter.

In connection with the casing, it will be noted that the upper casingmember 2 is substantially of the longitudinal and transverse ribbedconstruction shown in my prior patent mentioned. save that the aperture42 for receiving the end of the stud II is displaced substantially atone side of the longitudinal axisof the casing, as distinguished frombeing closely adjacent that axis, as in my prior construction. It willalso be understood that the casing is oi substantially identicconstruction with the casing 2 save that, instead of the singletransverse rib 4| on casing i, which is engageable with the lower righthand corner of the insulating base l (Figure l) where there is nobinding screw, two such ribs are provided on casing 2 to engage the twolike andl diagonally opposite corners on plate I shown in Figure 2, allin -such manner as to locate the unit in position while preventingi'ncorrect assembly thereof in the casing. Both casing members, aspreviously described, are also provided with upstanding members l2 atthe ends of theirjongitudinal extending rib and are connectible in ausual manner by screws I2 receivable ln these portions I2, while thelatter portions also function to locate the switch unit in position, asilmsm, it wm be evident that in each' of the various positions of themember 3, the projection 22 will be disposed in an aperture I9, as shownin Figure 12; the spring portion I8 then being raised and spaced fromthe insulating plate 6 as shown in that figure, which, for example,illustrates the parts in the position which they would occupy in the rstdotted position corresponding to low heat. While the parts will be heldin this position due to the resiliency of the plate I8, it will beevident that when the member 3 is moved to swing the member 2l4 andprojection 22 about the stud I B, the projection 22 will ride up theinclined side 20 of the aperture I9 then occupied and force the springplate I 8 down as'shown in Figure 11. As a result of the lateralpressure on the actuating member and the inclined side 20, the pointedend of the projection 22 will also be forced over the space between theapertures so that the projection 22 will seatin the next aperture I9 asthe plate I8 again moves up. This, since the contacts 34 and 35 mustmove with the member 2I and the actuating member 3, results in a quickor snap movement of these contacts from one position into another. Thus,as the member 3 is moved through the positions illustrated in Figure 1,the contacts 34 and 35 will both be simultaneously'thrown with a snapaction following each actuation of the member 3, the

contact 35 eng ing first the contact 36 and breaking contact herewithbeforethe contact 34 engages the contact 31, and the contact 34 breakingcontact with the contact 31 before both contacts 34 and 35simultaneously engage contacts as and as.

As a result of my improved construction, while obtaining a safe andeffective -switch of the general type described and claimed in myprevious Patent No. 1,894,002, it has been made possible to utilize onlya single spring cam plate and a single movable cam cooperating therewithand a much more simple structure oi' contacts. Further, through the useof my improved, more compact mechanism having the stud I6 and parts I8and 2|, etc. located as described, it is made possible to reduce thesize of the switch unit very substantially, approximately 20%, andsimilarly substantially reduce the necessary size of the casing membersenclosing the switch unit. As a result of this construction, it is alsomade possible to reduce the cost of the switches by from approximately20% to 25%, this reduction in cost being due not only to the improvedand simplied switch mechanism structure and to the smaller size of theswitch unit, but also to'an even larger extent due to the smaller sizeof the casing which may be used in connection with the latter. These andother advantages of my improved construction Will, however, be clearlyapparent to those skilled in the art. l

While I have, in this application, speciiically described one embodimentwhich my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood thatthis form is shown for illustrative purposes, and that the structure maybe modified and embodied in other forms without departing from itsspirit or the scope of the appended claims. a

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l

1. In an electricl switch, a pivoted actuating lever, snap actuatingmeans actuated by said lever comprising cooperating resilient andswinging cam elements both external of the contines of said lever andboth disposed on the same side of said lever, and stationary and movablecontact means including movable contact 4means actuated by said snapactuating means, said snap actuating means and movable contact meansbeing disposed between the pivot for said lever and the free end of saidlever in concentric arcs within the zone of a limited swing of saidlever.

2. In an electric switch, a pivoted actuating lever, snap actuatingmeans actuated thereby comprising cooperating resilient and swinging camelements both disposed externally of the connes of said lever andbetween the pivot for said lever and the free end of said lever, andcontact means comprising a series of stationary contacts and a pair ofcooperating movable contacts movable relative to said lever and actuatedin unison by said snap actuating means and disposed between the latterand the free end of 'said lever.

3. Inan electric switch, a pivotedv actuating lever, contact meansincluding a movable contact at one side of said lever and between thepivot and the free end of the lever and movable with said lever, andsnap actuating means for said contact -actuated upon lever movement anddisposed between the pivot and the free end of said lever upon theopposite side of said contact from said lever comprising a resilientmember having spaced cam means and co-operating swinging cam meansmovable progressively thereover as said lever swings.

4. In an electric switch, a pivoted actuating lever, a. series ofresiliently mounted cams dis- .posed around the axis thereof between thelever pivot and the free end thereof, a cooperating actuating cammovable with said lever, 'and contact means including a resilientlymounted contact member disposed between the pivot o! said lever andthefree end thereof and actuated to tact member from said lever and movabletoward and from said actuating lever upon movement thereof.

5. In an electric switch, a base, a pivoted actuating lever pivo-tedadjacent one edge thereof and having one end projecting beyond theoppober for operating 'said movable contact means from said lever andhaving a cam cooperating with said series of cams.

6. In an electric switch, a base, a pivoted actuating lever thereon, aspring plate having a portion thereof normally spaced from said base andbetween the latter and said lever and having a plurality of cam means onsaid portion disposed around said pivot, cooperating cam means movablein unison with said actuating lever and between said plate and lever,and cooperating movable and stationary contacts on said lever and base,said plate having its spaced portion movable toward and from said basebetween the latter and said lever as said actuating lever moves ing anelongated insulating member receivable in a through switch casing, anactuating member pivoted on said insulating member substantially midwaybetween the ends of the latter and adjacent one lateral edge thereof andhaving an operating end projecting from and movable along the oppositeedge. thereof, movable contact means movable by said actuating memberalong and adjacent said opposite edge and also movable relative to saidactuating member, stationary contacts along and adjacent said oppositeedge, and snap actuating means for said movable contact means betweensaid stationary contacts and the member pivot and actuated upon movementoi said actuating member.

8. In a switch, a plurality of elongated spaced insulating plates, anactuating member pivoted therebetween substantially midway between theends thereof and arUacent one lateral edge thereof and having anoperating end projecting from the opposite edge thereof, contactsadjacent saidA opposite edge, and snap actuating means actu-4 ated bysaid actuating member, said contacts comprising stationary contacts ondifferent plates and movable contacts having an operative connectionwith said snap actuating means and alternately and then simultaneouslyengaging stationary contacts on diierent plates.

9. Movable switch mechanism for an electric switch -comprising a holdermember movable about a pivot and having an end aperture therein, a levermovable about said pivot and projecting into said aperture andinterlocked with said holder for conjoint movement therewith, andcontact members above and below said lever also movable about said pivotand having portions projecting into said aperture and therebyinterlocked with said lever.

l0. In an electric switch, a pivoted actuating member, pivoted andcooperating contact members including a pivoted contact member movableabout the pivot of said actuating member, means tor interlocking saidactuating member and pivoted contact member for movement about saidpivot, and mechanism for actuating said movable contact member uponactuation of said actuating member comprising cam means having aplurality of spaced cams and cooperating cammeans engageable with saidspaced cams, one of said cam means swinging with said actu-f atingmember and the other cam means being resiliently mounted to impart asnap action to said movable contact member.

11. In an electric switch, a pivoted actuating member, pivoted and-cooperating contact members including a pivoted contact member movableabout the pivot of said actuating member, means for linterlocking saidactuating member and pivoted contactl member for movement about saidpivot, and mechanism for actuating. said movable contact member uponactuation oi' said actuating member comprising cam means having aplurality o! spaced cams and cooperating cam means engageable with saidspaced cams, one oi.' said .cam means swinging with said actuatingmember land the other cam means being resiliently mounted to impart asnap action to said movable contact member, said pivoted con- 4.interlocked with said actuating member.

12. In an electric switch, a pivoted actuating member, pivoted andcooperating contact members including a pivoted contact member movableabout the pivot of said actuating member, means for interlocking saidactuating member and pivoted contact member for movement about saidpivot, mechanism for actuating said movable contact member uponactuation of said actuating member vcomprising cam means having aplurality of spaced cams and cooperating cam means engageable with saidspaced cams, one oi said cam means swinging with said actuating memberand the other cam means being resiliently mounted'to impart a snapaction to said movable contact member, a second contact member likewisemovable about said 'pivot and actuated by said actuating mechanism, andcooperating contact means engaged by said second contact member in apredetermined position of said ilrst mentioned contact member.

13. A movable switch member for snap switches comprising a holder membermovable about a pivot and having an aperture therein, a pivoted switchactuating lever having a portion projecting into said aperture andthereby interlocked withA said holder for joint movement therewith, anda pivoted contact member at one sideof said lever also having a portionprojecting into said aperture and thereby interlocked with said holderfor joint movement with the latter and said lever. f

' 14. A movable switch member for snap switches comprising a pivotedholder member having an aperture therein and also having cam meansformed thereon, a pivoted switch actuating lever having a portionprojecting into said aperture and thereby interlocked with said holderfor joint movement therewith, and a pivoted contact member located atone side of said lever and between the latter and the cam means of saidholder member also having an interlocking portion projecting into saidaperture and thereby interlocked with said holder for joint movementwith the latter and said lever.

15. A movable switch member for snap switches comprising a pivotedholder member having an aperture therein at one side of its pivot, aswitch actuating lever pivoted adjacent one end having a portionadjacent its pivdted end projecting into said aperture and therebyinterlocked with said holder for joint movement therewith, said holdermember also having cam means disposed alongside said lever on theopposite side of its pivot from said projecting portion, and a pivotedcontact member located between said lever and cam member and having aportion projecting into the aperture in said holder member and therebyinterlocked with the latter for Joint movement with the latter and' saidlever and having a contact portion disposed -between the cam means onsaid holder member and the free end oi' said lever.

JOHANN G. PETERSON.

